Traverse the “Top of the Alps” Through the Bernese Oberland
Hiking Switzerland’s Via Alpina
Overview
Hike the high Via Alpina trails of Switzerland’s Jungfrau region, the first UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and home to the legendary Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau massifs and the mighty Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps. Amid this mountain glory, we hike on the Eiger Trail (as close as hikers can get to the awesome North Face of the Eiger), explore the Aletsch Glacier between the massive Jungfrau and Mönch massifs, and appreciate the most gorgeous settings in the Alps. One special overnight is at the historic Hotel Bellevue des Alpes, right at the foot of the Eiger and brimming with mountain-climbing lore. If you love exhilarating hikes and Swiss mountain splendor, this is the adventure for you!
Arrive: Engelberg, Switzerland
Depart: Kandersteg, Switzerland
Highlights
- Challenging hikes and stunning views of the Bernese Alps
- Hike the famous trail below the North Face of the Eiger
- Explore the mountain villages of Engelberg, Mürren, and Kandersteg
- Cross Hohtürli Pass to majestic Lake Oeschinensee
- Enjoy lovely hotels, including a historic hotel right below the Eiger
Itinerary
From the village of Engelberg, we hike to Surenenpass for a magnificent view of fjord-like Lake Uri and the Reuss Valley. We’ll stop for refreshments at a mountain refuge in high pastures. Our hike up to Planplatten (7,254') brings us 360-degree views far into the peaks of the Bernese Oberland, and we descend by cable car to the charming village of Meiringen.
We hike a balcony trail above Grosse Scheidegg Pass, with an overnight at Grindelwald, a Swiss town with a stunning location below the Eiger. Taking the train to Alpiglen, we head out on the famed Eiger Trail, one of the top walks in Europe, leading along the foot of the infamous North Face of the Eiger. Views are phenomenal, stretching across the Grindelwald Valley and to the Wetterhorn. Afterwards, we’ll overnight at the turn-of-the-century hotel below the Eiger to soak up alpine history in a special setting (The Eiger Sanction was filmed here).
An unforgettable ride on a century-old cogwheel train brings us to Jungfraujoch (11,371'), Europe’s highest railway station, set on the saddle between Jungfrau and Mönch. Here we’ll hike on the great Aletsch Glacier flanked by 12,000-foot peaks. Hiking options the next day are in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, with its towering granite walls and 72 thundering waterfalls.
Vistas are breathtaking as we hike from lovely Murren up to dramatic Sefinenfurke Pass (8,600'), with a spectacular descent into the end-of-the-road hamlet of Griesalp. Our last hike brings us up to Hohtürli Pass and past glaciers to Oeschinensee, a surreal blue lake encircled by mountain ramparts, with a descent to the village of Kandersteg. Depart on Day 10.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 5+, Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 11 miles a day for several days in a row, being on your feet for up to 9 hours a day, and hiking on narrow, uneven, and exposed surfaces. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, all trip members should have ample hiking experience and be able to keep up with the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
- 9 miles
- 7 hours
- 2,500'-3,500' ascent/descent
- Altitudes range from 7,000-11,500 feet
Challenge Day
- Day 9: 14 miles, 8-9 hours, 4,500' ascent/4,250' descent
Most hiking is between 7,000 and 11,500 feet, with considerable elevation gain and loss along the way. The Via Alpina is not technical, but it can be steep and rugged, and is aimed for those who have some experience hiking in the mountains. At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they are often much rockier and more uneven, with sections of loose scree, large boulders, and occasionally glacial snow. Recent rockslides may impact the routes we use. On some days, you will encounter sections of narrow, exposed trails. You will also occasionally need to use your hands to scramble over and between a jumble of boulders. Your experienced mountain guides are there to assist you if needed. No climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, but all participants must be in good physical condition, have good balance, be comfortable with moderate levels of exposure, and be confident on their feet.
Of course, you are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle. The support vehicle transports the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (sweater, camera, water bottle). Hiking poles are highly recommended.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
Temperatures are likely to reach the 60s°F and 70s°F during the day, with cool breezes and occasional rain. At night the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. The months we run these trips have the optimal weather conditions, but still can be fickle. It can range from blue skies to cloudy, wet, and cold conditions, making rain gear and warm garments necessary items to carry with you on every hike.
We spend our nights in alpine inns and hotels. Some are more traditional hotels and some have very small rooms, but they all have their own private bathroom with a shower or bathtub. Please note that the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Many hotels also do not have an elevator or porter service, so be prepared to carry your luggage up the stairs. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Lunch will be in a mountain lodge, at a local restaurant, or in a picnic spot amidst the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Most evenings we will have dinner at our hotel. Some of the items you may see on the menu include hearty soups, a variety of cheeses and dry meats from the region, cheese fondue, raclette (melted cheese served with jacket potatoes), cocktail gherkins and onions, pickled fruit, älplermagronen (a kind of gratin with potatoes, macaroni, cheese, cream and onions), rösti (a flat, hot cake made of grated, cooked potatoes and fried in hot butter), zürcher geschnetzelte (a veal dish, sometimes also containing veal liver and mushrooms, served with a cream sauce), and bratwurst served with onion sauce.
Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our support vehicle will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transfering that day). We will experience the efficient Swiss network of public transport from cable cars and chair lifts to cogwheel trains, funiculars, and the Post Bus which travels along marvelous, scenic roads to tiny mountain hamlets while delivering bread, salad, the newspaper, and letters to the locals.
Client Testimonials
"Well seasoned trip leaders, great company, and a excellent Swiss experience."
Jorge A.
Council Rocks, IA
"Great trip, with an excellent variety of experiences. Hikes were all interesting, challenging enough and beautiful. Hotels varied nicely from simple to more luxurious, each appropriate for the time and place. GREAT trail snacks and the meals were delicious."
Marilyn H.
Barnstable, MA
"The entire trip was impressively well-run. In particular the level and timeliness of communication from the trip leaders was outstanding; I realized whenever I reached a point where I wanted to know something about where we were staying the next night, or where we would have dinner, etc., a trip leader would already be answering the question to the group."
Matt P.
Orinda, CA
"An outstanding trip with excellent hikes and incredible scenery."
Michelle J.
Irvine, CA
"The local cuisine, gourmet food, and lessons in history were particularly enjoyable. I came back feeling more enlightened, stimulated and invigorated."
Paul D.
San Mateo, CA
"The itinerary was excellent—wonderful hiking day by day, great views of the Alps, nice hotels every night, optional rest days were perfect. Our trip leaders were excellent, knowledgeable, responsive to us, technically very capable, and nice people."
Rick C.
Portland, OR
"This trip was excellent! As my first Wilderness Travel trip, it exceeded my expectations. The hiking was challenging, but not too hard. The scenery was spectacular and the guides' knowledge and input and experience made the trip about a lot more than just hiking. I learned about history, geography, climbing, floral, and fauna. The hotels and food were excellent--even in the remote locations. "
Sarah S.
Bedford, PA
"The trip exceeded my expectations, and I was able to see the Alps for the third time and be in awe of the mountains. The food and accommodations overall have to be some of the best on any of my trips."
Terrell N.
Los Angeles, CA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.